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(MLB) Rolando McClain to be released by Raiders.. would you want him?

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain has been informed by the team that he will be released on Thursday, according to a source.

McClain, the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft, was held out of practice Wednesday because of an undisclosed team-related issue.

Coach Dennis Allen would give no more information about why he held McClain out. Allen said he did not know if McClain would practice Thursday.

McClain reportedly wrote on his Facebook page he no longer was a Raider, then deleted the post.

McClain has struggled under Oakland's new coaching staff, and has had his playing time sharply reduced in recent weeks. McClain's best year with the Raiders came in 2011, when he registered 99 tackles and five sacks. Information from senior NFL writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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I'd grab him but I doubt we have the cap space to make that happen. If he is waived he will likely get grabbed by a team with a worse record before we would even have a chance to put in a waiver claim.

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He wasn't placed on the waiver wire...

This season, it would be easy for any team to add him to the roster off of waivers with a salary of $970K (probably around $300K for the remainder of the season)...next season, his salary jumps to $4 million...there are apparently problems with conditioning and attitude with McClain...but, then again, that's what they said about Bettis in St. Louis back in the day...

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Originally Posted by Slapstick

He wasn't placed on the waiver wire...

This season, it would be easy for any team to add him to the roster off of waivers with a salary of $970K (probably around $300K for the remainder of the season)...next season, his salary jumps to $4 million...there are apparently problems with conditioning and attitude with McClain...but, then again, that's what they said about Bettis in St. Louis back in the day...

Yeah... why not. I mean, if I was on the Raider's, I'd start acting crazy too just to get outta Oakland. lol

Basically, we could save a draft pick and gain solid depth with Rolando and Spence alongside of Timmons.

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McClain is in his 3rd NFL season, but is still only 23 years old. We were interested in Dont'a Hightower in the draft, so getting his ILB teammate at Alabama in 2008-2009 could be an interesting switcheroo. He could be solid vs. the run, but appears to be a liability in coverage (certainly not a 3-down backer type). His skill set is pretty much the polar opposite of Sean Spence. He is only making a base salary of $970,000 this season, so that is not an immediate issue, but then his salary jumps to $4.005 million next season and $5.805 million in 2014, which does not fit into our cap situation at all. Therefore, we won't even think about claiming him off waivers (where you would inherit the remainder of his current contract). The only way we would ever end up with him would be if he passed through waivers unclaimed and then was willing to sign a minimal deal as a free agent. Quite unlikely.

Forced patriotism is an oxymoron.

A government leader proclaiming that citizens have to stand proudly for the National Anthem or else they shouldn't be in the country sounds more like a mandated decree from a totalitarian dictator like Kim Jong Un rather than the leader of the Free World.

Our ability to peacefully protest is a fundamental American right, and any attempt by our government to squash this freedom is what is truly dishonoring the liberty that our Star Spangled Banner symbolizes.

He was supposed to break the chain of poor first-round drafting by the Oakland Raiders. Oakland took McClain with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft. It was well received because McClain was expected to be a sure thing. He was a star on a defense of stars for Nick Sabanís Alabama Crimson Tide.

Many teams wanted him. McClain earned immediate kudos for asking for his playbook as soon as he was drafted. He was going to be the anti-JaMarcus Russell.

It went downhill from there.

McClain was not a good NFL player and it seems like his time is up in Oakland before his third NFL season is over. ESPNís John Clayton is reporting McClain will be cut Thursday.

The situation became murky Wednesday when McClain missed practice and the team said it was because of a team-related issue. McClain then took to social media, saying he was no longer a Raider.

McClain never lived up to his billing on the field. He was out of shape, slow and often out of position. He didnít show the instincts expected from a top-10 pick. He was convicted on a gun charge last year, but it was recently overturned on an appeal, according to his attorney.

The new Oakland regime was charged with salvaging McClainís time in Oakland. He didnít make improvements and his playing time dwindled in some games. Now, it is over.

McClain will be the 27th player to leave since new general manager Reggie McKenzie took over. Last week, fellow starting linebacker Aaron Curry was cut.

Changes like this show that the Raiders are rebuilding and patience is needed with the new regime. McKenzie is trying to reconstruct a team with a bad salary cap situation and small draft classes. Getting rid of players who didnít work out like McClain is also part of the process. Perhaps more cuts are on the way.

McClain may be able to salvage his career elsewhere in the right situation. Iím sure some teams will be interested in him. Oakland will hope he is claimed so the rest of his contract is taken on. But that may not be easy. I could see McClain passing through waivers.

Like every NFL team, I think the three other AFC West teams could look at McClain because he can fit in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. But each team will have to decide if trying to salvage McClain is worth its time.

As for Oakland, newly signed veteran Omar Gaither will likely play at middle linebacker for the time being.

Oakland will look for a middle linebacker in the offseason. One target may be Notre Dameís Manti Teío if he is available when Oakland picks in the NFL draft. He is expected to be a top-five pick. Oakland is currently on pace to pick fourth. Teío is considered a canít miss prospect.

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McClain was the first 1st rounder that I thought Oakland 'hit' on in years. Normally they were looking for some speedster that every other team had as a potential 3rd rounder but they had as 1st round material. I remember McClain was looking good his rookie year. I wonder what happened?

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Originally Posted by ikestops85

McClain was the first 1st rounder that I thought Oakland 'hit' on in years. Normally they were looking for some speedster that every other team had as a potential 3rd rounder but they had as 1st round material. I remember McClain was looking good his rookie year. I wonder what happened?